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Ince: A Good Game Ahead

Manager On Lancashire Derby

Paul Ince believes that the Lancashire derby against Burnley tomorrow comes at the right time for The Seasiders.

Unbeaten in their last three, the players have rediscovered their 'mojo' in recent weeks and are now looking to round off the season in a positive fashion.

"It's a good game for us to be fair, especially after last Saturday," the manager admitted. "It's a game that everybody will be up for and we know the importance of the game. We can't get wrapped up with it being a derby game though, we've got to be more focused on trying to get three points.

A veteran of many a derby as a player, Ince has been quick to emphasise the importance of treating a fixture against local rivals like any other game.

"I went to watch Blackburn play Burnley three weeks ago and everybody got wrapped up in the razzmatazz of it being a derby game and it was very bitty. We've got to forget about it being a derby game and treat it as another team that we need to get back to winning ways against.

"We know it's going to be a tough game but we're looking forward to it. We know we're playing well and we've shown that over the last four or five weeks. It's important that we continue that right until the end of the season."

Things remain tight in the bottom-half of The Championship following good results for Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, yet it's all about what Blackpool can do in their remaining fixtures to get further away from danger.

"Normally we'd be safe now in any other season but the good thing about teams winning below us is that teams above us are not winning so it's bringing them down into the equation. We can only take care of what we do and it's important that we go out there and get the wins that we need. If we do that, that's our job done and we don't need to worry about anyone else," Ince added.

Isaiah Osbourne will miss the next three games after his red card appeal was upheld, but Barry Ferguson returns from suspension this weekend and Gary Taylor-Fletcher could be fit enough for the bench.